Articulated aquatic toy



Ju'ne 13, 1950 c. GARLAND ARTICULATED AQUATIC TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1945 ZZcY IN VEN TOR. CHAL E .S C1" A /'?L AND.

A T TURA/E 7.

June 13, 1950 2,511,154

C. GARLAND ARTICULATED AQUATIC TOY Filed Aug. 2. 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /la l5 :am

IN V EN TOR.

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ATTOA/E Y Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED RTICUL'ATED AQUATIC 4TOY yCharles Garland, Mount Vernon, yN. Y., .assigner of one-half to Ursula Garland, Mount Vernon,

Application August `2, 1945,Serial'yNo. 608,511

4 Claims.

This invention relates -toimprovements in aqua'- tic devices and more particularly to aquatic 'devices having articulated parts and operative means therefor to produce propulsion.

I-n the embodiments disclosed in the drawings, imitation fish are illustrated which `are adapted to vbe -propelled in liquid by lateral movement `of parts thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to proe vide improved means for .articulatedly joining to'- gether 4parts of a device, particularly formed -of plastic composition.

It is a more `specific object of the present invention to provide `a toy Vfish with lsim-pleand efficient means to enable -it to be automatically propelled in Water by movements closely simulating 'the swimming movements yof real `fish.

A still further objectoi the present ilnventionis to provide in an -aquaticdevicea plurality of parts so combined and connected 4and operated as to insure eflicient forward movement in water 'of the device by successive relative movementsoi artculated parts thereof, land to further provide in an aquatic device improvements over 4the `disclosure made in -my Patent Number 1,928,418-, dated ASeptember 26, 1933.

Itis yet another object of the present invention to make an :aquatic device out of plastic par-ts which `can be joined or connected together eX- peditiously and with a minimum .of labor.

vA still further object'of the .invention is to pro'- vide novel means for .pivotally or jointedly .connesting together plastic parts 01E va device, .the said means forming integral .portions of the said parts.

Further objects and advantages of lthe invention will appear Vfrom the following disclosure thereof together with the attached drawings which illustrate certain Aforms of embodiment thereof. These forms are shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention since the same .have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a toy vfish embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the Viish of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken through line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the device seen in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 2; n

Fig. v6 is a top view of one ofthe articulated tail sections shown in full lines with fragmental portions :of tail .sections adjacent thereto shown in dash lines;

Eig. -7 is `anf-ex'plodf-fd View Yshowing a vertical sectional view of fone f'of the tai-l sections and a fragmental portion of an adjacent tail section shown in dash lines;

Fig.. -'ila is 2a transverse sectional view taken through tine llo/,Ala oiFig. Il

AFig 8 Iis afside view (partly in section) fof the tail Vvs ection of a 'toy embodying the Vinvention in yla modied lform;

Fig. 9 is a top View (partly in section) fof Fig. 8;

Fig.. -1=0isasectiona1side View of oneoi 'the t'ail sections seen -in Figs. t and 9;

Fig. #1-1 :Sis 'a View of Fig. 1li), Llooking at one end and Fig i2 is -a Aview Yof Fig. 10, llooking at fthe other end; land Figs. i3-and A14 are Jlo'ngitudinal sectional views of twofconnected'tail sections seenin Figs. 18 and 9. in ltwo rdiiferent relative positionsr thereof.

Referring to the liormo'f the invention disclosed in Figs. l=5, is representative fof a toy liish, there are :provided the head portion 26, 'the -in= term-odiate portion =2| -rear .portion y"22, Athe latter -being articulated and comprising the cone nected tail sections 22a, 22h, l212e and 22d; All these portions are hollow-land are preferably made of `-plastic comfposi-tiony such fas, 'for example, .any oli the following: `'cellulose acetate, Celluloid, poly'- styrene, pyroxylin, -methyl methaerylate, or other synthetic resinous, for phenol compounds.

Intermedi'ate portion 21 nhas extending there-v from on one side-of the the-iin .23; y/tailsection 2219 has extending therefrom on the otherl side of -th'e -iflsh the 2M; -and :extending rearwardlyirom the tail :section 22d is thecaudal 25. lhe'seiin's .are also preferably made fof .plastic composition. Suitable noats `are provided within the rsh, .such as, .for example, .the :hollow member 2t within Abody portion `2-I and the hole low member 2 within tail vsection 22h. Meme bers 26, 2l' are preferiablyma'de of plastic coin position, lalthough.ctiirk or :lig-ht wood may be employed.

Making the `head and 'intermediate part of the sh in two portions ft, .21, .results Ain ease of Seicterior Aassembly and -a-ssem-bly of .parts fof the driving `meclfianism .for imparting .motion -to `the connected tail sections 22a., 22h, .22o and 22d. The .head portion 20 is .joined Vto the intermedi-ate portion 2l by providing one of the portions, in this instance, `the intermediate .portion I2i with a reduced end 2Ia forming a shoulder 29 against which the re'arend vof head portion 2@ abuts, the reduced end 21a projecting within the hollow of head portion 2D.

The head `portion 20, theintermediate portion 2| and the tailsections22a, 22o, 2-2c and 22d, are hollow and the vexternal and internal walls of each are substantially elliptical in transverse section, Fig. 1a. showing a transverse sectional view of one of the tail sections. Each of the tail sections is so shaped to permit limited angular movement relative to the next preceding section and the intermediate section 2l is likewise so shaped at its rear end to permit relative angular movement of the section 22a. The relative angular movement permitted between adjacent sections by the cut-away portions 3U (see Figs. 4 and 6) insures free lateral movement of the flexible pull members S la, 6|b referred to more in detail hereinbelow, and makes provision for taking up the slack in these pull members at successive positions of the tail sections.

Each of the sections 22a, 22h and 22o has at its front end upper and lower 'nook or nose projections 35, 36, the hook or catch portions 35a, 36a facing in opposite directions, that is, portion 35a facing upwardly and portion 36a facing downwardly; and each of said sections 22a. 22b and 22e has at its rear end upper and lower hook or catch portions 31, 38 facing toward each other and in interengagement respectively with the front catch portions 35a, 35a, of an adjacent section as clearly seen in Fig. 2. Section 2| has upper and lower rear catches 31, 38 in interengagement respectively with the upper and lower front catches 35a, 36a of section 22a; the tail end section 22d has the upper and lower front catches 35a, 36a in interengagement with the upper and lower rear catches 31, 38 of section 22C, respectively. Since each of the sections of the fish has a substantially elliptical internal wall as seen in Fig. 7a, the sides of these walls act as stops preventing lateral movement of the catches when in respective interengagement. The rear portions of the catches somewhat form recesses for the reception of the respective interengaging catches. Thus, by interengagement of the catches or hooks, joints or pivots are provided making the tail or rear portion of the fish articulated and permitting the sections 22a, 22D, 22e and 22d to be successively or progressively swung laterally from side to side. The sections 22a, 22h, 22e and 22d. are made exible (preferably of plastic composition) so that the sections may be snapped into relative adjacent position with respective catches in interengagement by compressing the top and bottom or' the sections.

As seen in Figs. 4 and 6, each of the sections 22a, 22h, 22e and 22d has a notch or recess 40 at its upper and lower front edges, these notches 4U being above the projections 35, 36 and at the rear of the catches 35a, 36a. and being adapted to permit passage of catches 31, 38 for interengagement with the catches 35a, 36a respectively, the catches 31, 38 being received in said notches 40.

A plurality of serrations or projections 45 may be provided to conceal the cut-away portions 30 between adjacent sections, simulating scales and blending in with other scales 46 of the fish.

Connected to the sides of section 2| and disposed within the latter is a cross member 41 embraced by a bearing 48 having the perforated depending lugs 49 supporting rotatively a crank shaft 50 terminating at its front in an eye or hook and being bent or oset at its rear end portion as indicated at 52.

A sphere or bead 52a is supported on the irregularly-shaped crank shaft 50, immediately behind the bearing 48. A crank handle 53 projects through an opening at the nose 54 of the fish, the rear end of handle 53 terminating in an eye or hook 55 engaging one end of a rubber band 56, the other end of the band being connected to the eye 5l of shaft 5D.

The depending lugs 49 are formed by striking the same out of the material from which the bearing is made, and bending the same, leaving the straps 48a embracing the cross member 41.

Pivoted at the front of section 22a as indicated at 51a is an oscillator 51 having a shaft portion 58, a front extension 59 provided with a vertical slot 60, and a transverse enlargement 42 provided with a transverse groove 43. Shaft 58 is preferably niade of plastic composition. In the instant case shown in the drawing, floats 26 and 21 act as stops for the oscillator 51, it being understood that any other instrumentality may be employed as stops to prevent the oscillator falling during or after assembly of the parts or sections of the article.

The oiset or bent end 52 of Shaft 58 projects into slot 60 of oscillator 51. It is evident that rotation of shaft 5i) will cause lateral oscillation of oscillator 51. A exible member 6I has a portion 44 secured in groove 43 of the transverse enlargement 42 of the oscillator 51, its two branches Bla, 6Ib converging in and being secured at the end section 22d. Member 6| may be made of any suitable string-like material, preferably dental floss. Cement may be employed for securing portion 44 of member 6| in groove 43.

It is evident that as oscillator 51 oscillates sidewisely, one of the two branches Bla, Blb is pulled and tension on the other released.

Now, if the sections 22a, 22h, 22o and 22d are held to prevent lateral movement thereof, as with the hand of the operator, and the crank handle 53 turned so as to wind or twist the rubber band 56, then, if the grip with the hand is released, crank 50 will rotate causing lateral oscillation of oscillator 51 and the sections 22a, 22h,

22o and 22d by the action of string branches Bla,

SIb successively or progressively swing sidewisely simulating the movement of a fish and when the article is placed in water this movement will cause propulsion of the article like a sh, the movement slowing up somewhat on account of the resistance of the water. The succession of motions of the plurality of sections insures efficient forward movement simulating the actual swimming motions of a fish.

It is understood that, as regards the construction of the joints of the sections 2|, 22a, 22h, 22c and 22d, the same may have many other uses besides the one herein described.

Referring now to the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 8 to 14, inclusive, there is seen the intermediate portion |24 and the rear portion |25 the latter being articulated and comprising the connected tail sections |25a, |251), |250 and |2541. All these portions are hollow and are preferably made of plastic composition. As seen in preceding gures, the external and internal Walls ol' each are substantially elliptical in transverse section. The relative angular movement permitted between adjacent sections by the cutaway portions insures free, though limited, lateral movement of the flexible pull members referred to hereinbefore, and makes provision for taking up the slack in these pull members at successive positions of the tail sections. Each of the sections |25a, |251), |25c and |25d has at its front end, upper and lower hook or nose projections |30; the hook or catch portions |30a facing in opposite directions; and each of the sections |24, |25a, |2512 and |250, has at its rear end, upper and lower flange portions |3I facing toward A each ;other and having :central or inter.-

spectively with the front catch portions |3ila of an adjacent section as clearly seen in [Fje- 38. The flange or wall `sections |3|b on either side of central hook section |3la act as stops or guides to limit the side play -movement of and to retain the catches or hooks 130e, as seen in Figs. 13 and 14, the side guides I3Ib holding the projecting tabs or hooks [30a on center. The central ange section ila is shorter than the lateral flange sections l3lb, whereby the latter also act as guides for Vinsertionoffthecatch, orhook members I3ia. Since the tail sections 125cl25d and the intermediate portion |24 are made of flexible, preferably plastic material, therespective sections maybe Vilexed'in order to hook members i3d onto ange portions l3l.

The numeral |32 indicates the rib which terminates in the hook projection 130 and flange portion I3I.

In order to prevent the escapement of the energy stored in the elastic the extreme tail section having the caudal n is held to one side by the operator until the device is placed upon the water. This will keep a section of the string taut and prevent lateral movement of the tail sections.

Although the drawing and the above specilication disclose the best modes in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, I desire in no way to be limited to the details of such disclosure, for in the further practical application of my invention many changes in the forms and proportions may be made as circumstances require or experience suggests without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An aquatic device comprising in combination a rigid substantially hollow body portion and an articulated portion joined to said body portion and laterally movable relatively thereto, said articulated portion comprising a plurality of sections made of plastic material and laterally movable relatively to each other, said sections being hollow and being provided with complementary interlocking means integral therewith permitting said lateral relative movement, said interlocking means comprising respective inter-engaging hook projections and hook portions at connecting ends of said sections and means on said hook portions for limiting side play of said hook projections, said latter means comprising side walls for said hook portions, and means for causing successive lateral movement of said sections; said means for causing lateral movement of said sections comprising a cross member on said body portion, a crank shaft rotatively supported by said cross member, said crank shaft having an offset portion, a crank handle projecting from the free end of said body portion, flexible connecting means between said crank handle and said shaft, an oscillator pivoted at the forward section of said sections of said articulated portion, said oscillator having a shaft portion and a front extension provided with a vertical slot and a transverse enlargement, said offset portion of said shaft projecting in said slot, and a flexible member secured to said transverse enlargement, said member h-aving two branches converging in and being secured to the rearward section of said sections.

l2. An aquatic device comprising in combination :a Afrigid substantially hollow .body portion and lan articulated yportion joined to :said body portion and laterally movablerelatively thereto, said articulated portion ycomprising a Vplurality of `secftons made of plastic material and `laterally mov- .able relatively to each other, said sections being :hollow Land ,being provided with :complementary interlocking means integral therewith permitting said lateral nrelative movement, said interlock-ing means comprising respective interengaging hook projections and hook portions at connecting ends of saidsections, and means on said hook portions for limiting side play of lsaid hook projections, said latter lmeans .comprising side walls for said hook portions, and means for causing successive lateral movement of rsaid sections; said means for causing lateral movement of said sections comprising a cross member on said body portion provided with a bearing having perforated depending lugs, a crank shaft rotatively supported by said lugs, said crank shaft having an oifset portion, a crank handle projecting from the free end of said body portion, flexible connecting means between said crank handle and said shaft, an oscillator pivoted at the forward section of said sections of said articulated portion, said oscillator having a shaft portion and a front extension provided with a vertical slot and a transverse enlargement provided with a transverse groove, said offset portion of said shaft projecting in said slot, and a flexible member secured in said groove, said member having two branches converging in and being secured to the rearward section of said sections.

3. An aquatic device comprising in combination a rigid substantially hollow body portion and an articulated portion joined to said body portion and laterally movable relatively thereto, said articulated portion comprising a plurality of sections made of plastic material and laterally movable relatively to each other, said sections being hollow and being provided with complementary interlocking means integral therewith permitting said lateral relative movement, said interlocking means comprising respective interengaging hook projections and hook portions at connecting ends of said sections and means on said hook portions for limiting side play of said hook projections, said latter means comprising side walls for said hook portions, and means for causing successive lateral movement of said sections; said means for causing lateral movement of said sections comprising a cross member on said body portion, a crank shaft rotatively supported by said cross member, said crank shaft having an offset portion, a crank handle projecting from the free end of said body portion, flexible connecting means between said crank handle and said shaft, an oscillator pivoted at the forward section of said sections of said articulated portion, said offset portion of said shaft projecting in said oscillator, and a flexible member connected to said oscillator and having two branches converging in and being secured to the rearward section of said sections.

4. An aquatic device comprising in combination a rigid substantially hollow body portion and an articulated portion joined to said body portion and laterally movable relatively thereto, said articulated portion comprising a plurality of sections made of plastic material and laterally movable relatively to each other, said sections being hollow and being provided with complementary interlocking means integral therewith permitting said lateral relative movement, said interlocking means comprising respective interengaging hook projections and hook portions at connecting ends of said sections and means on said hook portions for limiting side play of said hook projections; said latter means comprising side Walls for said hook portions, and means for causing successive lateral movement of said sections; said means for causing lateral movement of said sections comprising a cross member on said body portion provided with a bearing having perforated depending lugs, a crank shaft rotatively supported by said lugs, said crank shaft having an offset portion, a crank handle projecting from the free end of said body portion, flexible connecting means between said crank handle and said shaft, an oscillator pivoted at the forward section of said sections of said articulated portion, said oifset portion of said shaft projecting in said oscillator, and a flexible member connected to said os` cillator and having two branches converging in and being secured to the rearward section of said sections.

CHARLES GARLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

